Category Archives: 2018 event

Well – yes, we like to think that on Saturday & Sunday (14 & 15th) we can offer a real alternative with live action horse displays around the site and the field gun in action.

OK – a train, but with Horses!

The “Battle Bus”!

The GS Wagon!

Field gun

Cavalry display

29th Field kitchen in action

First World War Cavalry display

French WW1 history display

There are rather splendid first world war cavalry (think War Horse!) demonstrations in action a couple of times each day in the main arena, a spectacle that many really find fascinating to watch.

In addition to these displays, at regular intervals during the day we will have draught horses in action hauling a General Service wagon (the horse drawn equivalent of an off-road lorry!) and a team of horses demonstrating haulage of the large field gun and limber – ultimately bringing it to a firing position.

Tracks to the Trenches also brings an unprecedented range of First World War Living Groups and displays – bringing some of the history to life, in the replica (& quite authentic) Trench and alongside the vehicles and railway displays.

The TTTT organisers are extremely pleased to confirm the attendance of the London Transport museum’s “BattleBus” (and mobile exhibition) to Apedale this year & we are extremely grateful to the museum’s staff for being so obliging.

Buses like these were used during the First World War to ferry troops to the front line – their use both preceded and complemented the later narrow gauge railways. So, the Bus is an important part of the story we want to tell. Watch out for it on active display around the site!

Although everything is in place to ensure that the bus attends – we always welcome support (publicity & monetary) as these things are difficult to arrange and often costly.

Not one but two WD Hunslet 4-6-0Ts made their debut at Tracks to the Trenches 3 this year! In addition to the War Department Locomotive Society running No. 303 for the first time, Accucraft UK Ltd (key supporters of the TTTT trilogy) will unveil their own 1:19 scale, live steam version of this locomotive during the event (likely to be 14th July)!

Hunslet produced 155 of these 2’ (60cm) gauge locos during WW1 for service behind the trenches in France, sharing their duties with Baldwins and Alcos procured for the same role. After the war they were scattered to the four winds, examples ended up in South America, Australia and Palestine as well as England and Scotland. In 2005 The War Office Locomotive Society repatriated No. 1215 (No. 303) from Australia and its restoration is now complete. A percentage of the retail profit from each UK sale will be donated to this locomotive, a greater percentage if ordered directly from Accucraft (UK) Ltd.

The model is internally gas fired and has slide valve cylinders. The boiler is fitted with a water gauge with blow down valve, lubricator with drain and pressure gauge. It will be available in either 32mm (gauge 0) or 45mm gauge (gauge 1), the latter as per the 3’ gauge locos supplied to Balfour Beatty in Scotland. The model will only be available in satin black (with no running number) and will carry a UK RRP of £1950.00. They will carry item numbers S19-29A (45mm gauge) and S19-29B (32mm gauge).

Photos to follow during the event, but for now – here is the real thing!

We are pleased to confirm that this rather pretty new-build Decauville will be joining us at Apedale for Tracks to the Trenches.

…and we promise (especially if the owner’s reading this) to be more careful with Edgar than the French were. The photo, by the way, is a bit of mystery (but likely to be taken at a French Fort) – the background is full of interesting things like Crochat petrol-electrics, a Kerr Stuart “Joffre”, a pair of RL-type Orenstein diesels, and what looks like a Gmeinder.

Driver Experience Course

Click for details of the "Tracks to the Trenches" guest driver experience course (steam/diesel footplate day).

About the Event

The "Tracks to the Trenches" 2018 event marks the finalé of the Moseley Railway Trust's First World War centenary commemorations - highlighting the tremendous expansion of the British light railways, which were used right up until the Armistice in 1918.

In 2014 and 2016 the Apedale Valley Light Railway hosted major First World War centenary events - marking 100 years since the start of the "War to end all Wars". These highly acclaimed centenary events focused on the often overlooked areas of Transport and Logistics used by all combatants during the conflict. This was the narrow gauge light railways' finest hour.

Using much of the Apedale site that had previously been inaccessible to the public, the site developments completed for the event, are now a legacy to last well beyond the centenary period. More developments are underway - please keep watching this website for news!

The Apedale Valley Light Railway is the narrow gauge public passenger railway that is operated by the volunteer run Moseley Railway Trust charity at its Apedale home near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, UK.